Goalkeeper gloves with magnets

ABSTRACT

The present invention is goalkeeper gloves which include right and left gloves with right and left thumbs and small fingers, and a way to maintain magnets in the thumb tip portion of the gloves in order that when the thumb tips are brought close to one another they are magnetically attracted and hold the thumb tips together. The present invention further includes a way to maintain magnets in the small fingers of the gloves, so that when the left and right small finger outer edges are brought close to one another they are magnetically attracted and hold the small finger tips together. In one embodiment the present invention includes a thumb cover worn over each thumb with a thumb magnet permanently affixed to a thumb end of each thumb cover so that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other. In a further embodiment the goalkeeper gloves include a small finger cover worn over each small finger with a finger magnet permanently affixed to each small finger end of each small finger cover so that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to one another.

This application claims priority from prior Provisional Application No. 62/000,663, filed on May 20, 2014 by Claudio Perri under title: GOALKEEPER GLOVES WITH MAGNETS.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present concept relates to sports equipment and more particularly relates to goal keeper gloves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Goalkeepers in the game of soccer are called upon to use their hands to stop shots that are directed at the goal in order to avoid being scored upon. Often the goal keeper will make a diving and/or jumping save in order to maximize the reach of his hands toward the ball. It is very important that the goalkeeper keep his hands together in order to ensure that his hands can stop and trap the ball rather than have the ball punch thorough or trickle around his hands.

In the process of training of soccer goalkeepers one of the exercises is to learn to keep the hands as closely together as possible when attempting to block a shot. In an effort to improve the sensory perception of the goal keeper and help the goalkeeper to better understand and perceive the position of his hands it would be beneficial if the goalkeeper received some feedback as to whether or not his hands are together.

Therefore there is a need for a device for training of goalkeepers which provides for feedback to the goalkeeper indicating that his hands are together and in the correct position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present concept goalkeeper gloves include;

-   -   a) right and left gloves with right and left thumbs and small         fingers respectively;     -   b) a thumb means for maintaining magnets in the gloves proximate         the left and right thumb tips such that when the thumb tips are         brought into close proximity to each other they are magnetically         attracted to each other and hold the thumb tips together;     -   c) a small finger means for maintaining magnets in the gloves         proximate the left and right small finger outer edges such that         when the left and right small finger outer edges are brought         into close proximity to each other they are magnetically         attracted to each other and hold the small finger tips together.

Preferably wherein the goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 1 wherein the thumb means including a thumb cover worn over each thumb with a thumb magnet permanently affixed to a thumb end of each thumb cover such that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other and hold the thumb ends together when brought in close proximity to each other.

Preferably wherein the small finger means including a small finger cover worn over each small finger with a finger magnet permanently affixed to each small finger end of each small finger cover such that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other and hold the small finger ends together when brought in close proximity to each other.

Preferably wherein the thumb and finger magnets are button magnets sewn onto the outer surface of the thumb covers and small finger covers respectively.

Preferably wherein the thumb magnets are a strip magnet fixed onto the outer surface of the thumb cover.

Preferably wherein the thumb magnets are U shaped strip magnets fixed onto the outer surface of the thumb cover and arching over the top of the thumb ends.

Preferably wherein the small finger magnets are strip magnets fixed onto the outer surface of the small finger cover and extending along the outer side of the small finger.

Preferably wherein the small finger magnets are a row of at least two button magnets fixed onto the outer surface of the small finger cover which extend along the outer side of the small finger.

Preferably wherein the thumb means including a U shaped magnet permanently attached to a thumb tip of each thumb such that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other and hold the thumb tips together when brought in close proximity to each other.

Preferably wherein the small finger means including a finger strip magnet permanently attached to each small finger outer edge and covered over with a magnet cover such that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other and hold the small finger edges together when brought in close proximity to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present concept will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of the present concept namely goalkeeper gloves shown together with a goalkeeper wherein the goalkeeper gloves are in the upright position ready to stop a soccer ball.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the goalkeeper gloves shown in the upright position with the thumb tips touching.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the goalkeeper gloves in the down position with the outer edge of the little fingers touching.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a thumb insert showing a thumb cover and a U-shaped magnet mounted thereon.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a little finger insert showing a little finger cover together with a strip magnet mounted thereon.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an alternate little finger insert showing a little finger cover with button magnets mounted thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present concept goalkeeper gloves 100 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 includes the following major components namely left glove 102, right glove 104, left thumb 106, right thumb 108, left U-shaped magnet 110 and right U-shaped magnet 112, left thumb tip 114, and right thumb tip 116.

Goalkeeper gloves 100 may also include wrist straps 118, left small finger 120, right small finger 122, magnet cover 124, strip magnets 126, small finger outer edge 128, hand palms 130. Goalkeeper gloves 100 are shown in the upright position 132 with the hand palms 130 facing outwardly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Goalkeeper 134 may place goalkeeper gloves 100 in the upright position 132 when for example the ball is coming towards the goalkeeper 134 and the ball is positioned roughly above the waistline of the goalkeeper.

Referring now to FIG. 3 the goalkeeper gloves 100 are shown in the down position 140 wherein the right small finger outer edge 128 is making contact with left small finger outer edge 129.

Goalkeeper 134 may place his hands in the down position 140 when for example a ball is coming towards the goalkeeper at a height roughly below the waistline of the goalkeeper. As in the upright position 132 the hand palms 130 are facing outwardly towards the ball.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 which depict finger inserts namely FIG. 4 shows a thumb insert 150 which includes a thumb cover 154 which can be slipped over a thumb 156 and includes a U-shaped magnet 110 mounted on thumb cover 154 at thumb end 152.

FIG. 5 shows small finger insert 160 which shows small finger cover 164 which can be slipped over small finger 162 and includes a strip magnet 166 mounted on the outer side 168 of small finger insert 160. It is also possible to use button magnets located proximate small finger end 161. The magnets may be sewn or glued or fixed in any other manner known onto the outer surface of thumb cover 154 and small finger cover 164.

Referring now to FIG. 6 small finger insert 170 is depicted and shows small finger cover 174 which can be slipped over small finger 162 and includes button magnets 172 mounted on the outer side 168 of small finger cover 174.

In Use

Goalkeeper gloves 100 are intended for use while participating in games or training as a Goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper gloves 100 are useful for application of technical catching technique namely to ensure hands are connected and aligned such that thumbs form the requisite “M” or “W” hand position. The “W” position is employed by a goalkeeper to catch a ball above waist height and is characterized by facing palms away from the keeper and creating an interface at the left thumb tip 114 and right thumb tip 116 as shown in FIG. 1. The “M” position is employed by a goalkeeper to catch a ball below waist height and is characterized by facing palms away from the keeper and creating an interface at the left small finger edge 129 and right small finger edge 128 as shown in FIG. 3. The use of these hand positions by a goalkeeper act to minimize errors surrounding the catching and holding of a soccer ball.

Goalkeeper gloves 100 include magnets mounted at the left and right thumb tips 114 and 116 of goalkeeper gloves 100 which preferably are U-shaped magnets 110 and 112 as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Left U-shaped magnet 110 will have the opposite magnetic pole of right U-shaped 112 such that left thumb 106 will be attracted to right thumb 108 when the two thumb tips 114 and 116 are brought into proximity to each other. In this manner when goalkeeper gloves are held in the upright position 132 as shown in FIGS. 1 and/or 2, as the goalkeeper 134 brings his hands together the right thumb tip 116 will be attracted to the left thumb tip 114 due to the left and right U-shaped magnets 110 and 112 mounted near the left and right thumb tips 114 and 116. This will provide a positive confirmation to the goalkeeper that in fact his thumb tips are being help close together since he will feel the attraction and in some cases a clicking action as the two thumb tips 114 and 116 make contact.

The reader will note that the drawings show left and right U-shaped magnets 110 and 112 however in practice these magnets may take on a number of different shapes. The magnets may be built right into the gloves as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 or they may take the form of finger inserts for example thumb inserts as shown in FIG. 4 in which these inserts are slipped over top of the thumb and then placed into the appropriate glove.

Left and right U-shaped magnets 110 and 112 preferably are imbedded into the goalkeeper gloves 100 and covered over with magnetic cover 124 in order to keep them in the proper location on the left and right thumb tips 114 and 116 and also to protect them from abrasion and other wear.

In similar fashion goalkeeper gloves 100 will also include a left magnet 131 and a right magnet 133 mounted just below magnet covers 124 proximate the left and right small finger edge 129 and 128 respectively. Left magnet 131 and right magnet 133 may take on the shape of a strip magnet as shown in FIG. 5 as 166 or it may take on the shape of buttons magnets as shown as 172 in FIG. 6. The magnets may be sewn or integrally embedded into the goalkeeper gloves 100 and covered over with magnet covers 124 as shown in FIG. 3 or they may be part of a finger insert such as small finger insert 160 or as depicted as small finger insert 170.

Left magnet 131 and right magnet 133 will have opposite poles at the outer edge of the magnets such that left small finger edge 129 is attracted to right small finger outer edge 128 when the two small fingers 120 and 122 are brought in proximity to each other.

FIG. 4 shows a finger insert namely thumb insert 150 which includes a thumb cover 154 which is slipped over thumb 156 and integrally has sewn into it a U-shaped magnet 110 proximate to thumb end 152. Thumb insert 150 can be separate from goalkeeper gloves 100 and potentially could be used for placement into any suitable glove. In this manner thumb insert 150 could be utilized on any number of gloves and would not be dedicated to a particular glove.

Alternately thumb cover 154 together with U-shaped magnet 110 could be sewn into and become integrally part of goalkeeper gloves 100 as a method of manufacturing goalkeeper gloves 100.

Similarly small finger insert 160 includes a strip magnet 166 mounted at the outer side 168 of small finger 162. Small finger cover 164 is slipped over a small finger 162 and then the hand can be placed into any suitable goalkeeper glove.

This small finger cover could also be permanently affixed or sewn into a set of goalkeeper gloves or it could be utilized with any number of goalkeeping gloves if kept separate from the glove itself.

FIG. 6 is an alternate embodiment of small finger inserts shown in FIG. 5 namely small finger insert 170 which instead of including a strip magnet 166 includes button magnets 172 which are affixed to small finger cover 174 at the outer side 168 of small finger 162.

In this manner whether the goalkeeper 134 should hold the goalkeeper gloves 100 in the upright position 132 in which case the left and right thumb tips 114 and 116 are attracted together indicating the goalkeeper that he is holding his hands in close proximity. The other possibility is that the goal keeper is holding his hands in the down position 140 as shown in FIG. 3 when the ball is coming in low and in this case the left and right small finger outer edges 129 and 128 are being held together with left and right magnets 131 and 133 again providing feedback to the goalkeeper that in fact his hands are being held in close proximity to each other and thereby be able to help stop the ball.

It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim. 

I claim:
 1. Goalkeeper gloves comprising: a) right and left gloves with right and left thumbs and small fingers respectively; b) a thumb means for maintaining magnets in the gloves proximate the left and right thumb tips such that when the thumb tips are brought into close proximity to each other they are magnetically attracted to each other and hold the thumb tips together; c) a small finger means for maintaining magnets in the gloves proximate the left and right small finger outer edges such that when the left and right small finger outer edges are brought into close proximity to each other they are magnetically attracted to each other and hold the small finger tips together.
 2. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 1 wherein the thumb means including a thumb cover worn over each thumb with a thumb magnet permanently affixed to a thumb end of each thumb cover such that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other and hold the thumb ends together when brought in close proximity to each other.
 3. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 2 wherein the small finger means including a small finger cover worn over each small finger with a finger magnet permanently affixed to each small finger end of each small finger cover such that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other and hold the small finger ends together when brought in close proximity to each other.
 4. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 3 wherein the thumb and finger magnets are button magnets fixed onto the outer surface of the thumb covers and small finger covers respectively.
 5. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 3 wherein the thumb magnets are a strip magnet fixed onto the outer surface of the thumb cover.
 6. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 3 wherein the thumb magnets are U shaped strip magnets fixed onto the outer surface of the thumb cover and arching over the top of the thumb ends.
 7. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 3 wherein the small finger magnets are strip magnets fixed onto the outer surface of the small finger cover and extending along the outer side of the small finger.
 8. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 3 wherein the small finger magnets are a row of at least two button magnets fixed onto the outer surface of the small finger cover which extend along the outer side of the small finger.
 9. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 1 wherein the thumb means including a U shaped magnet permanently attached to a thumb tip of each thumb such that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other and hold the thumb tips together when brought in close proximity to each other.
 10. The goalkeeper gloves claimed in claim 2 wherein the small finger means including a finger strip magnet permanently attached to each small finger outer edge and covered over with a magnet cover such that the magnet poles are arranged to magnetically attract to each other and hold the small finger edges together when brought in close proximity to each other. 